What makes a good book? Some say knowledge has to be gained from its reading, but what kind of knowledge? Knowledge such as statistics and facts or knowledge about people and human nature? Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers illustrates a key concept of human nature. The effect of love on men is a tool Dumas uses to present what can be learned about human nature through this book.

Love is a very potent drug that a woman can instill into a man to make him do anything she desires. Man's succumbing to this irresistible emotion is an ancient characteristic of human nature. The Three Musketeers displays this concept through characters such as D'Artagnan and John Felton. Milady, the ultimate master of this craft of love utilizes it to exploit men. D'Artagnan becomes her victim telling her maid that he is "Madly in love with her!" (292). He is characterized...